VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has announced that cardinals will begin the conclave to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 7. The date was decided on Monday during the first daily general congregation of cardinals since Pope Francis’ funeral.
The closed-door meetings have seen over 180 cardinals arrive in Rome, with just over 100 being eligible electors (under the age of 80). At least one elector, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, will not attend due to health reasons. Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, previously excluded due to a financial scandal, has withdrawn his request to participate.
The cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel, which was closed to the public on Monday, for the highly secretive ballot. The process will begin with a special Mass before the cardinals enter the chapel, take an oath of secrecy, and remain isolated until a new pope is elected by a two-thirds majority.
Notably, approximately 80% of the eligible electors were appointed by the late Pope Francis, making this conclave one of the most diverse in the Church’s history. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, was laid to rest on Saturday.
